Insulin sensitivity obtained from the oral glucose tolerance test and its relationship with birthweight

Background: Glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in preadolescent children might predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult life in small for gestational age (SGA) children. We aimed to investi-gate whether reduced birthweight is related to low insulin sensitivity in preadolescence. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-five SGA children and 29 appropriate for gestational age children (AGA) children born between 1993 and 1994 were evaluated for insulin sensitivity in preadolescence. At the beginning of the study, body mass index (BMI) was calculated and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Blood samples to measure glucose and insulin were taken every 30 minutes during OGTT. Homeostasis of model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and composite index (CI) values were measured to assess insulin sen-sitivity. Results: On the OGTT, 120-minute glucose and insulin levels were higher in SGA than AGA children ( P =0.02 and P =0.001, respectively). Although there was no difference between HOMA-IR values, the mean CI value was lower in SGA than AGA children ( P =0.001). There was an inverse correlation between birthweight and 120-min-ute glucose concentrations (r=-0.30, P =0.02). This correlation was stronger between birthweight and 120-min-ute insulin concentrations (r=-0.50, P =0.001). BMI was positively correlated with 120-minute insulin (r=0.50, P =0.001). There was no relationship between HOMA-IR values and birth size, but the CI index was positively correlated with birthweight (r=0.40, P =0.002). Conclusions: Birthweight may be a predictive factor for insulin sensitivity and CI is more reliable than HOMA-IR to assess this sensitivity in preadolescence

Effect of Naloxone on Oxidative Stress and Testicular Injury due to Spermatic Vessel Ligation of Rat Testis

altug, mustafa ugur/0000-0002-6475-2178; Aydos, Tolga Resat/0000-0002-1832-9336WOS: 000260236500007PubMed: 18931543Aims: Two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy has been accompanied by testicular atrophy in some cases but neither of the mechanisms responsible for testicular injury are clear, nor is there an effective agent that might prevent this injury. In this study we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of naloxone, a morphine antagonist, on testicular histopathology and oxidative stress after spermatic vessel ligation (SVL) in rats. Methods: 32 prepubertal rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: group 1: control (only bilateral orchiectomies were performed); group 2: sham-operated group; group 3: SVL, and group 4: SVL+naloxone (1 mg/kg twice daily for 1 month). One month postoperatively, bilateral orchiectomies were performed to evaluate histopathologic findings and measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Results: Considering group 3, left SVL resulted in significant tissue damage in both testes, more severe in the ipsilateral testis. The SVL resulted in a significant increase in testicular MDA levels of both testes in this group (p 0.05), the contralateral testicular histopathology improved significantly (p < 0.05). However, naloxone did not change either testicular MDA or NO levels. Conclusions: The SVL led to bilateral testicular injury, and oxidative stress may be a reason for this injury. Naloxone significantly improved contralateral testicular injury without showing any antioxidative effect. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Thiol-Disulfide Balance in Fibromyalgia: A Case-Control Study

Aim. We aimed to examine the thiol-disulfide (SS) balance, a recognized marker of oxidative stress, in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods. The study comprised 98 female participants (61 newly diagnosed patients and 37 patients under treatment) with FMS, along with 82 apparently healthy female volunteers. In both groups, assessments were conducted using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Tender Point Count, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Native thiol (NT) and total thiol (TT) levels were measured, SS levels and SS/NT ratio were calculated. Results. FMS patients demonstrated significantly lower NT levels, higher SS levels, and an elevated SS/NT ratio compared to the control group (p< 0.05 for all groups). In FMS patients, a statistically significant correlation was found between SS level and the SS/NT ratio, as well as the number of tender points (r=-0.24, p=0.02; r=-0.21, p=0.04), SF-36 pain subscales (r=0.22, p=0.032; r=0.21, p=0.04), and BAI scores (r=-0.22, p=0.01; r=-0.23 p=0.03). In the subgroup analysis, all health assessment scales were observed to exhibit statistically significant differences between the under-treatment group and newly-diagnosed group when compared to the control group (p< 0.05 for all groups). The FIQ, VAS, FSS, and BAI scores were found to be significantly lower in the under-treatment group as compared to the newly-diagnosed group (p< 0.05 for all groups). In the newly-diagnosed group, NT was significantly lower and the SS/NT ratio was significantly higher than those in the control group (p< 0.05). In the under-treatment group, SS levels and SS/NT ratio were significantly higher as compared to the control group (p< 0.05). In the multivariate regression analysis, which incorporated age, health assessment scales, patient subgroups, tender points, and duration of symptoms to predict the SS/NT ratio, variabes such as being in the under-treatment group, tender points, and BAI score were identified as significant predictors (p< 0.05). Conclusions. The thiol-SS balance was observed to shift in the oxidative direction, and oxidative stress was higher in the FMS group. The absence of a significant difference between the under-treatment group and the newly-diagnosed group in terms of thiol-SS balance parameters suggests a shift to oxidative stress in patients, independent of the treatment status